Although I think Starc is unfairly maligned here at times, and I reject the notion outright that him and Patto can't start in the same XI, I wouldn't pick him at this stage for Lords. He has a completely different modus operandi to Siddle, who was the steady man holding up one end. That attack balance worked well, if Siddle does miss it should be for Haze who is imo capable of doing a better version of the same sort of role.

Originally Posted by Magrat Garlick

glad to not have found out the real name of GoodAreasShane, as it allows me to keep imagining that at club cricket his mates shout "good areas, GoodAreasShane"

Spoke to a mate down in Traralgon the other night and he made a point or two in comparison with the opinions held by CW regarding the merits of our bowlers, this is despite CW having so many various opinions all the time. It was slightly interesting hearing someone at evens with what I usually skim through on here. Kind of leading me to think there is probably some mythologising going on regarding some members of our pace attack. He would pick Siddle and thats not controversial at all.

Although I think Starc is unfairly maligned here at times, and I reject the notion outright that him and Patto can't start in the same XI, I wouldn't pick him at this stage for Lords. He has a completely different modus operandi to Siddle, who was the steady man holding up one end. That attack balance worked well, if Siddle does miss it should be for Haze who is imo capable of doing a better version of the same sort of role.

Since 2005 our attack has often failed to live up to its billing in England, at least consistently over the length of the series. And every time, the central problem they have is leaking too many boundaries, which makes it impossible to build wicket-taking pressure and brings the crowd right into the game. It’s worth noting that, despite the seemingly difficult position Aus were in at the end of Day 2, they never let England run away with it and thus were able to peg them back quickly once they got breakthroughs.

Starc bowling as he is would wreck all of that. No way he should be picked if he’s going at >a run a ball in a tour game.

citoyens, vouliez-vous une révolution sans révolution?

those nights were on fire
we couldn't get higher
we didn't know that we had it all
but no one warns you before the fall